Health Benefits of Biking

5 Research-Backed Health Benefits of Biking

Find out why now is the perfect time to dust off your bike.

5 Research-Backed Health Benefits of BikingFind out why now is the perfect time to dust off your bike.

connel/Shutterstock

If you haven't gotten on a bike since you were in middle school, you're seriously missing out. Biking's low-impact and burns serious calories, but it also comes with loads of other health benefits. Check them out:

It Helps You Stay at a Healthy Weight
According to a study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, biking can help with long-term weight maintenance: Women who rode a bike for four hours a week were less likely to gain weight over the course of 16 years than women who didn't.

It May Reduce Heart-Disease Risk
Getting on a bicycle can drastically improve heart health: According to the British Medical Association, women who ride 20 miles a week may slash their risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 50 percent.

It Improves Your Mood
In a survey conducted by Portland State University, respondents who biked to work reported the highest levels of wellbeing—even higher than those who walked to work.

It May Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk
According to a study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, women who walked or biked more than 30 minutes to work had a slightly lower risk of breast cancer than those who worked from home or took a vehicle.

It Can Prevent Illness
One study published in the journal Preventive Medicine found that people who bike to work typically take fewer sick days. What's more, the bikers in the study also experienced significantly fewer chronic health complaints—even though the average bike commute lasted just 20 minutes one way (on average).